Dornfelder

History of the grape: Dornfelder was created in 1955 by German oenologist August Herold at the Weinsberg wine institute in Wurttemberg, Germany. Its parent grapes also have grandparents: Helfensteiner is a cross between Fruhrburgunder and Trollinger, and Heroldrebe is a cross between Portugieser and Lemberger. The name is in homage to the school’s founder, August Ludwig Dornfeld (1796-1869). It was originally cultivated to add color and body to weak red wines. However, it was found to create full flavored and structured wines on its own, and is now celebrated for its single varietal releases and is one of the most widely planted red grapes in Germany.

Regions where the grape is currently important: Germany, particularly Pfalz and Rheinhessen Read more »

Name of varietal: Dornfelder

Common synonyms: none

Parentage of the grape: Helfensteiner and Heroldrebe

History of the grape: Dornfelder was created in 1955 by German oenologist August Herold at the Weinsberg wine institute in Wurttemberg, Germany. Its parent grapes also have grandparents: Helfensteiner is a cross between Fruhrburgunder and Trollinger, and Heroldrebe is a cross between Portugieser and Lemberger. The name is in homage to the school’s founder, August Ludwig Dornfeld (1796-1869). It was originally cultivated to add color and body to weak red wines. However, it was found to create full flavored and structured wines on its own, and is now celebrated for its single varietal releases and is one of the most widely planted red grapes in Germany.

Chef De Carlo’s recipe for gnocchi is fantastic with the heady Wild Boar Ragu , but is equally delicious with a simple tomato sauce or a sage brown butter sauce .
What to buy: While we tested th... Read more »

This is the first sparkling red I've ever had. Alrthough the thought of it seems odd to me, the execution is well done. Serving chilled favours the bubbles but probably loses the taste somewhat which is very much like their still red (same grape so it ...

An interesting and unexpected red in two ways. As dark as the colour is, the flavour is refreshingly light. Otherly, the wine washes across the roof of the mouth to deposit the taste rather than the tongue. What this means entirely, I'm not sure, bu...

Dornfelder is a smooth red wine from Germany of dark red with intensive fruit notes of black cherries and plums. Well balanced, few tannins, not oaky. Perfect with almost any dish. Sweet, not heavy, easy to drink.
Everybody loves it

Mr.E - 36 attendees, 4 servers, 3 cooking = 42 total people here in my backyard ... ... easily 2. Cambiata Dornfelder Made in the SLH region it was GREAT - however, it should be noted that it's application was different - We drizzled it over rhubarb coffee cake & French vanilla ice cream with side 3oz wine glass of it of the side so the taste...
Read More

Wow. Pretty decadent, and we're used to reading about Outthere levels ... ... my mind.I've had one Dornfelder in my life, and it definitely was not a dessert wine. Under what rock did you find that? What findings can you report to us? Was there anything--food or wine--that was great? If you don't have notes, you don't have to be detailed, b...
Read More

Jist for THOI is searched through about 600 wines from Germany (Many of them ... ... - only Spatburgunder and Dornfelder. There were a few Zweigelt from Austria - which is a varietal I find interesting and represents a different wine exoerience. There were ZERO from Mosel.However, if I may deviate just a tad here, the following is one that I...
Read More

Same as Duncan's experience, had a Dornfelder that was less than pleasant, here's my tasting note: A tad on the sweet and syrupy side, with bright red cherries and some cotton candy. Medium to light body and medium to short finish. Reminds me a bit of a Nouveau Beaujolais but not as good.Although this may be very appealing to someone else.
Read More

Hi. I was recently going through my pictures from Germany along the Rhine in 2000. I drank an awesome red wine there from the Mosel area. This wine tasted almost like fruit juice and was the best I had ever tasted. I don't remember the name and have been unable to find any wine that matched the flavor of that wine. Any suggestions as to where I ...
Read More

OMG, I had my first taste of Red Dornfelder Lieblich (2009), and in all my 30 yrs of loveing red wines, this is by far most the best. This bottlle was a gift from a friend who had recently taken a trip to Germany. I would love to purchase more, so I will seek the web to get it hopefully by the case. Shariz, is my main choice of reds, so this Red...